And this way, as I have known, I perceived that, for her dear
sake, I should not let my lovingness weaken me in that moment. And,
in verity, I shifted my hand and loosed the fastenings of her
garment, so that her pretty shoulders did be bared. And her face to
change sudden, and she lookt up at me an instant, with a little
gasp; so that I knew she did be all unbroken, as was mine intent;
but she did not yet have learned deeply in her heart, all that I
was minded that she to learn; for even in that moment, she made a
sound that showed she did try to mock me; but truly, she did not
know in that instant whether to mock or to weep; though she did try
to suppose that she had yet an heart for mockery.
And I set the belt thrice across her pretty shoulders, where
they did be bared; and
